The Azzurri seem to be on a roll in football these days, not only were they the first team to make it to the round of sixteen at UEFA Euro 2016 they also are in the last four of the Euro Beach Soccer Cup.
In a gusty display they held up a fighting Swiss team to win the match 3-2.
After a deadlock in the first period mainly due to some brilliant display by Swiss keeper Valentin, the Italians came out in the second period all guns blazing firing three goals courtesy of a brace from Palmacci and a stunning goal from Gori.
However the 2005 Champions did not give up and staged a comeback of sorts. Misev pulled one back just before the end of second period and made it 3-1.Hodel kept Swiss hopes alive in the final stages but the Azzurri did just enough to claim the competition’s first win.
Gori who scored a spectacular goal with an overhead kick was in action from the start, he paired up with Stankovic up front to test the swiss keeper on numerous occasions only to be bettered by him. Valentin managed to keep both of them at bay and also saved two set pieces and survived an embarrassing lobbed ball from being goal.
It was Palmacci finally who delivered from range after a mistake from Mo and the forward quickly doubled the advantage with a stunning long-range free-kick soon after followed by Gori’s strike.
The Swiss had other ideas Misev’s strike bobbled in the sand to beat the Italian Keeper Del Mestre and reduced the advantage, then midway through the final period Hodel gambled on a loose ball to add a second to brighten the hope is of a comeback but the Italians were not to give in and they fought hard to make it to semis.
Goals: 1-0: Palmacci, min. 10 (2); 2-0: Palmacci, min. 9 (2); 3-0: Gori, min.8 (2); 3-1: Misev, min. 0 (2); 3-2: Hodel, min. 7 (3)